FORENSIC BALLISTIC

ORIGIN OF FIREARM

13 t h Century – development of firearms followed the invention of gunpowder

in Western Europe.

Berthold Schwartz – a German monk, and Roger Bacon, an English monk are
both credited with gunpowder invention.

-Most reference books credit Roger Bacon, English monk and

Scientist with the invention of gunpowder in 1248 and Berthold
Schwartz, with application of gunpowder to the propelling of a
missile in the early 1300’s. This powder was that we now call “Black
Powder”.

1245 – Gen Batu, The Tartar leader, used artillery in Liegnits when he
defeated the poles Hungarians, and Russians.

- It is also often stated that the gunpowder was first invented by

Chinese, were of gunpowder and its use as propellant long before its
advantages became recognized in Europe.

- It may also assume the Arabs with their advance knowledge of

chemistry at that time.

1247 – One of the earliest recorded uses of firearms in war far was that of an
attack on Seville, Spain.

1346 – Cannons used by King Edward II of England at Crecy.

1335 - Mohammad II of turkey in his famous conquest of Constantinople.

-First firearms were inefficient, large and heavy and were not capable
of being carried by an individual soldier; hence, the development of
cannons preceded that of small arm weapons by almost 50 years.

Man never satisfies to himself. He is always trying to improve himself and

his surrounding. He created some rule crude or primitive weapons
which were subsequently developed into sophisticated firearms of
modern times.

The following are the stages of development of man’s weapon:

1. Stones
2. Cubs Knives Spears and Darts
3. Sling shots to hurl objects
4. Bows and arrows
5. Cross – bows
6. Guns
7. Missiles
IMPORTATNT PERSONALITIES:

1. Col. Calvin H. Goddard M.D, OS Army – Father of Modern Ballistics.

2. Horace Smith – Founded the great firm Smith and Weapon and
pioneered the making of breech – loading regales.

3. Daniel B. Wesson – An associate or partner of smith in revel verb

making.

4. John M. Browning – Wizard of modern firearms and pandered breech

loading single shot rifle.

5. John T. Thompson – pioneered the making of Thompson sub-Machine.

6. David “Carbine” Williams – maker of first know carbine.

7. Alexander John Forsythe – Father of the percussion system.

8. Elisha King Root – Designed machinery of making colt firearms.

9. Eliphalet Remington – One of the first rifle makers.

10. John Malon Martin – Founder of martin Firearms Company.

11. James Wolfe Ripley – Stimulated the development of the model 1855
riffled – musket.

12. Samuel Colt – (1814-1862) – Produced the first practical revolver.

13. Henry Derringer – He gave his name to a whole classes of firearms.

14. John C. Garand – Designed the semi-automatic US Rifle, Cal. 30

15. Oliver F. Wichester – One of the earliest rifles and pistol makers.

IMPORTANT DATES IN FIREARMS HISTORY

1313 ---Gunpowder as a propellant. Te age of gunpowder began with outs

first use as a propellant for a projective. Such use has been recorded as early
as 1313.

1350 ---Small arms, Gunpowder was first used only in cannons. It was in the
middle of the 14 t h century that portable hand, F.A was introduced. These
guns were ignited by a hand-held wire or lighted match.

1498 ---Riffling, The first reference to rifled barrels appeared. Although its
important as an aid to accuracy was recognized by some, it was many years
after before rifling was generally used.

1575 ---Cartridges, Paper cartridges combining both powder and ball were
developed. This greatly speeded loading and reduced the hazards of carrying
loose powder.
1807 ---Percussion system, the discovery of Forsythe in 1807 the that certain
compounds detonated by a blow would be used to ignite the charge in a
firearm, for the basis for all later percussion and cartridges development.

1835 ---Samuel Colt-patented the first practical revolvers in which the

cylinder was rotated by cooking the hammer.

1836 ---Pin fire. Cartridge. Developed by Le Faucheux in 1836, was

probably the first self really the first rim fire cartridge.

1858 ---Center fire Cartridge. The Morse Cartridge of 1858 marked the
beginning of the rapid development of the center fire cartridge.

1884 ---Automatic Machine Gun. Hiran Maxim built the first fully
Automatic gun, utilizing the recoil of the piece to load and fire the next
charge.

1885 ---Smokeless Powder. In Frnece, Veille, Developed the first

satisfactory smokeless powder, a new propellant which not only lacked the
smoke characteristics of black powder, but also more powerful.

1845 ---Rimfire Cartridge. In France, Florbert develop a “bullet” “breech

cap” which was in really the first rimterfire Cartridge.

BALLISTICS – is the science of the motion of projectile.

ORIGIN OF BALLISTIC – The word “BALLISTICS” originated from the

Greek word “Ballein” which means “to throw” and from the Roman word
“Ballista” which is machine to hurl a stone.
-From those words the modern term for Forensic Ballistics was
derived to indicate the science of moving projectile.

BRANCHES OF BALLISTI CS

a. INTERIOR BALLISTICS – traits of the motion of the projectiles while

still in the firearm, namely the studies of combustion of the powder,
pressure developed and velocity.

b. EXTERIOR BALLISTICS – traits of the motion of the projectiles after

leaving the muzzle namely trajectory, velocity, range penetration, etc.

c. TERMINAL BALLISTICS – traits of the effects of the projectile on

impact on the target.

d. FORENSIC BALLISTI C – the science of firearms identification by

means of the ammunition fired through them.

DIVISION OF FORENSIC BALLISTICS:

a. FIELD NVESTIGATION – refers to the work of an investigation in the

field. It concerns mostly with the collection, marking, preservation, packing
and transmission of firearms evidences. It include the study of class
characteristics of firearms and bullets.
b. TECHNICAL EXAMINATION – refers to the examiners who examine
bullets/ or shells, whether fired from also whether or not cartridges were
loaded and ejected made by the suspected firearms submitted. Reports are
made by the examiners and testify in court regarding their reports.

LEGAL DEFINITION OF FIREARM – “Firearms” or “Arms” are herein

used includes rifles, muskets, carbines, shotguns, revolvers, pistols and all
other deadly weapons from which a bullet, ball, shot, shell or other missile
may discharge off by means of gunpowder or other explosives. The term also
includes air rifles except such as being of small caliber and limited range
used as toys. The barrel of any firearm shall be considered a complete
firearm for all purposes hereof (Sec. 877, Revised Administrative Code see
also Sec. 290 National Internal Revenue Code).

TECHNICAL DEFINITION OF FIREARM – instrument used for the

propulsion of a projectile by means of expansive force of gases from burning
powder.

AMMUNITION (defined) – under the National Internal Revenue Code the

word “Ammunition” shall mean loaded shell for rifles, muskets, carbines,
shotguns, revolvers and pistols from which bullets, ball shot, shell or other
missile may be ammunition for air rifles.